Optical fiber contact assembly

Abstract

An assembly for interconnecting a plurality of first contacts disposed in a ribbon array with a plurality of second contacts, also disposed in a ribbon array, includes a plurality of cylindrical radial springs which are split longitudinally along an axial direction of the contacts, each radial spring providing three common lines of contact with the mating first and second contacts so as to precisely align front ends of mating the first and second contacts. The assembly further includes dynamic seals on opposite ends of an alignment insert which contains the cylindrical, radial springs, the dynamic seals preventing foreign matter from entering an interface between front ends of the mating first and second contacts, and also functioning to dampen shock- and vibration-induced displacements of the mating first and second contacts.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An assembly for optically aligning a first optical fiber contact with a second optical fiber contact, comprising: first and second interconnected shells, said first shell retaining said first contact so as to be matable with said second contact retained by said second shell;   means for axially biasing said first contact towards said second contact;   means for aligning ends of said first and second contacts to be optically aligned;   first and second dynamic seals for sealing opposite ends of said alignment means where said first and second contacts enter said alignment means, each of said dynamic seals being secured to said opposite ends of said alignment means, said first and second dynamic seals having holes therein having inside diameters smaller than an outside diameter of said first and second contacts, respectively, spaces being provided on opposite axial ends of each of said dynamic seals in a vicinity of said holes to allow movement of said dynamic seals in an axial direction during shock and vibration loads.   
     
     
       2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, said alignment means including a cylindrical radial spring which is split axially, said radial spring having a spring constant less than a spring constant of said axial biasing means, said alignment means bringing said first and second contacts into alignment. 
     
     
       3. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, said cylindrical radial spring comprising multiple cylindrical radial springs disposed in series. 
     
     
       4. The assembly as claimed in claim 2, said first and second contacts each having a flange and a screw thread formed on an outer cylindrical surface thereof, said screw thread extending from said flange toward a back end of said contact, said biasing means comprising first and second axial springs screwed onto said screw thread of said respective first and second contacts. 
     
     
       5. The assembly as claimed in claim 4, further comprising first and second means for retaining said back ends of said first and second contacts and said first and second springs in holes formed so as to provide a compressive force on said first and second axial springs. 
     
     
       6. The assembly as claimed in claim 5, each of said first and second dynamic seals having a triangular cross-sectional shape on an axial end thereof opposite said alignments. 
     
     
       7. The assembly as claimed in claim 6, said alignment means further comprising an alignment insert containing said cylindrical radial spring in an aperture therein, and further comprising means for pivoting said alignment insert to one of said shells. 
     
     
       8. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a plurality of first contacts and a corresponding plurality of said second contacts, each of said second contacts being optically aligned with a corresponding one of said first contacts, said first and second contacts being retained by said first and second shells in ribbon-type arrays, said biasing means axially biasing each of said first contacts towards said corresponding second contacts and axially biasing each of said second contacts towards said corresponding first contacts, each of said corresponding first and second contacts being aligned by one of said cylindrical radial springs. 
     
     
       9. The assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for holding back ends of the first and second contacts so as to allow said contacts to move axially in response to tolerance variations, said holding means including first and second wafers having engaging extensions and recesses which allow said wafers to be connected and disconnected by movement along the axial direction of the contacts. 
     
     
       10. An assembly for optically aligning a first optical fiber contact with a second optical fiber contact, comprising: first and second interconnected shells, said first shell retaining said first contact so as to be matable with said second contact retained by said second shell;   means for axially biasing said first contact towards said second contact;   means for aligning ends of said first and second contacts to be optically aligned, said aligning means comprising an alignment sleeve having a cylindrical shape, said alignment sleeve being split longitudinally along the axial direction thereof; and   first and second dynamic seals for sealing front ends of said first and second contacts from the environment, each of said dynamic seals being secured to opposite ends of said alignment means.   
     
     
       11. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, said alignment sleeve comprising a cylindrical radial spring having a spring constant less than a spring constant of said axial biasing means, said alignment means bringing said first and second contacts into alignment. 
     
     
       12. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, said cylindrical radial spring comprising multiple cylindrical radial springs disposed in series. 
     
     
       13. The assembly as claimed in claim 10, said first and second contacts each having a flange and a screw thread formed on an outer cylindrical surface thereof, said screw thread extending from said flange toward a back end of said contact, said biasing means comprising first and second axial springs screwed onto said screw thread of said respective first and second contacts. 
     
     
       14. The assembly as claimed in claim 13, further comprising first and second means for retaining said back ends of said first and second contacts and said first and second springs in holes formed so as to provide a compressive force on said first and second axial springs. 
     
     
       15. The assembly as claimed in claim 14, each of said first and second dynamic seals having a triangular cross sectional shape on an axial end thereof opposite said alignment means. 
     
     
       16. The assembly as claimed in claim 15, said alignment means further comprising an alignment insert containing said cylindrical radial spring in an apparatus therein, and further comprising means for pivoting said alignment insert to one of said shells.